Cranberry DEFINITION Cranberry is a type of fruit that comes from the plant species Vaccinium. DESCRIPTION Cranberries grow on small, evergreen shrubs whose flowers vary from pink to purple and bloom between May and August. The berries are harvested and crushed to form a juice. The juice of the Cranberry… Read Article
Black Cohosh DEFINITION Black Cohosh is a herb with the botanical name Cimicifuga racemosa. It is also known as baneberry, black snakeroot, bugbane, squawroot and rattle root. DESCRIPTION Black Cohosh is naturally occurring in North America. It is a perennial that grows to 8 feet and has a plume of… Read Article
Arnica DEFINITION Arnica is a herb with the botanical name of Arnica montana. It is also known as Leopard’s Bane, Wolf’s Bane and Mountain Tobacco, and Mountain Snuff. DESCRIPTION The herb occurs naturally in Europe (except for Great Britain) and is also grown commercially in northern India. The leaves form… Read Article
Aloe vera DEFINITION Aloe Vera is a herb with the botanical name of Aloe barbadensis. The herb is also known as Aloe gel, Cape, Zanzibar, Socotrine, Curacao and Barbados aloes. DESCRIPTION Aloe Vera is a perennial, succulent plant with stiff, spiny, fleshy leaves that is cultivated to yield two products:… Read Article
Tea Tree DEFINITION Tea tree oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia. MEDICAL USE Acne. Products containing Tea tree oil for the treatment of acne may help to reduce the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions. Athlete’s foot (Tinea pedis) – the anti-fungal properties of… Read Article
Slippery Elm DEFINITION Slippery Elm is a herb with the botanical name Ulmus fulva and is part of the Ulmaceae family of plants. This herb is native to Central, Northern United States of America and Canada and is a small tree with long leaves and very rough branches. The leaf… Read Article
Rosehips DEFINITION Rosehips is a herb with the botanical name of Rosa canina is associated with the Rosaceae family of plants. The fruits of the herb contain several important constituents including vitamin C, pectin, tannin, fruit acids and a fatty oil. INTERACTIONS Herbal supplements can alter the effects of certain… Read Article
Horseradish DEFINITION Horseradish is a plant with the botanical name of Armoracia rusticana. It is also known as Pepperrot. DESCRIPTION The root of this plant has been used in herbal applications. Horseradish contains coumarins, phenols, volatile oils, ascorbic acid, asparagin, peroxidase enzymes, resin and carbohydrates. Young leaves can be used… Read Article
Ginger DEFINITION Ginger has the botanical name Zingiber officinale and is part of the Zingiberaceae family of plants. Originally found growing naturally in South East Asia it is now grown commercially in India, China, West Indies, Australia and Nigeria. Ginger is a root which propagates all the year round and… Read Article